Seam iron and ironing arm



May 1, 1962 D. N. FRYE SEAM IRON AND IRONING ARM Filed Aug. 4, 1958 INVENTOR. DOROTHY NELL FRYE atent fiice 3,031,732 SEAM IRGN AND IRONING ARM Dorothy Nell Frye, 1116 Garrison Ave., Fort Smith, Ark. Filed Aug. 4, 1958, Ser. No. 755,339 1 Claim. (Cl. 38-105) This invention relates to ironing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for ironing seams.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a seam iron and ironing arm accessory for sewing machines that will facilitate the sewing and finishing of various garment seams in a convenient and etficient manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a seam iron for use in finishing seams that is of specifically related size and shape so as to enable all crevices and edges of seamed articles to be neatly and professionally finished.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a seam ironing accessory bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and eificient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a sewing machine embodying a seam iron and ironing arm accessory made in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view, with parts broken away, of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a bracket forming a part of the present invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a bottom plan view of an iron made in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, an assembly it) for finishing and ironing seams made in accord ance with the present invention is shown to include a main mounting bracket 12 that is adapted to be secured to the side or end wall of a sewing machine cabinet 13 which carries and supports a sewing machine, not shown, on top when in use and adapted to completely enclose the machine within its walls when the machine is not in use, by means of bolts or screws that extend through longitudinally spaced apart openings 16 in a downwardly tapered back plate 15. A pair of downwardly tapered guides or channels 18, one extending along each side edge of the tapered plate 15 define a wedge shaped channel for slidably and releasably receiving a downwardly tapering tongue tenon-plate 20 that is pivotally connected by means of a hinge 21 to one end of a small size ironing board 22. Said sewing machine cabinet having a hinged rectangular shaped top wall for removing the sewing machine housed within the cabinet when not in use, two end walls and two side walls with supporting legs assembled therewith.

A brace, in the form of a rigid rod 24 that is pivotally connected by means of a hinge connection 25 at one end to a mid section of the ironing board 22, is releasably received at an opposite end within an upwardly opening socket 27 in the bottom of the tapered plate 15. This brace 24 thus serves to releasably secure the ironing board 22 in a horizontal position during use.

A rectangular holder 29 is also secured to one side edge of the pivoted end of the ironing board 22 for releasably supporting a small size iron 30 therewithin.

The rectangular holder provided with a rim portion along one side and both ends thereof, the side of said ironing board forming an abutment at the opposite side of said holder, said abutment and said rim portions preventing accidental removal of said small iron 30. This iron 30 includes a supply line 31 for electrically energizing the heating plate 32 thereof which is of substantially elliptical shape. A plurality of rows of longitudinally spaced apart steam access holes 33 extend along the length of the heated plate 32 to supply steam to the fabric being ironed. Because of the particular shape and configuration of this heated plate 32, it is possible to reach all crevices, seams, and the like, so as to properly and neatly finish any sewed seam. The points 35 at each end of the heated plate enable the iron to reach into such small corners and crevices in a simple and efiicient manner.

It will be recognized that the ironing board, bracket, and iron made in accordance with the present invention can be readily secured to the side or end wall of any conventional sewing machine so as to be constantly available for use during the sewing of various types of garments and the like. It is thus possible to completely finish each seam as it is sewed so as to facilitate the completion of and to enhance the appearance of such articles. When the device is not in use, the ironing board, brace, and iron may be readily removed from the sewing machine merely by lifting the depending tongue 20 out of wedge fit engagement within the channel formed by the downwardly tapered guides 18. It is thus easy to store the equipment in a simple and convenient manner.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

In combination with a sewing machine cabinet for housing and supporting a sewing machine of some weight, a portable and removable ironing board having an outer end, parallel side edges and a rear end with its rear edge formed at right angles to said parallel side edges, said sewing machine cabinet provided with a hinged top panel, two vertical side panels and two vertical end panels, a bracket secured to one of said vertical panels, said bracket comprising a downwardly tapering plate with downwardly tapering side channels on each edge thereof, a downwardly tapering tongue tenon-plate embodying a top end and a bottom end, hinge means pivotally connecting the rear end of said ironing board to the top end of said downwardly tapering tongue tenon-plate for its reception with said downwardly tapering place channels, said tapering plate provided with an upwardly open female type socket at its bottom end, a brace means releasably supporting said ironing board in a horizontal position when in use, said brace means comprising a single rigid one piece rod formed with a short upper ofiset end portion, said upper offset end portion being pivotally connected with pivot means attached to the bottom of said ironing board approximately at the mid-section thereof, the opposite end of said rod having a male portion for reception in said upwardly open female type socket at the bottom of said tapering plate, whereby said ironing board when in use can be hung solely from said bracket with only said tongue tenon-plate between said plate channels and the lower male end portion of said rod arranged in said open female type socket at the bottom of said plate, the Weight of said sewing machine counteracting any downward moment of force by the operator using the board.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Edwards Feb. 16, 1875 Troy July 24, 1900 Miller Sept. 17, 1907 Schwartz et a] Sept. 10, 1912 Martindale Apr. 20, 1920 Bitzer Dec. 11, 1928 Ewan Sept. 19, 1939 Butman May 9, 1950 Nestor May 22, 1951 Larsen Dec. 3, 1957 

